Aladdin (Newcastle upon Tyne)

Aladdin is pure wok n'roll!

Michael Harrison, Producer, Writer and Director brings back Danny Adams and Clive Webb for their eight year, accompanied by Britain's best dressed Dame, Chris Hayward and regular Steve Arnott as Abanazar.

As usual Michael Harrison ensures the panto plot is a mixture of mayhem, chaos and comedy genius. Where else would an audience watching Aladdin and accept as a matter of course, pink dancing gorillas, a gigantic cobra and gorilla, West End style dancing routines, side splitting comedy and a magic carpet special effect that has to be seen to be believed and even then you don't believe it? The answer is; only in a Michael Harrison panto at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle.

The secret is the audience know what to expect from the off and greet Danny and Clive as old friends from their first entrance.

This year, more than ever, the rightful king of comedy, Danny Adams, comes to the fore and this production of Aladdin allows him the opportunity to display his dancing skills (even upside down) in a fabulous routine with Chris Hayward.

Once again Newcastle has set the bar so high that other pantomimes can only hope to come somewhere near. So while the countdown has already started for Jack and the Beanstalk next year (booking now open) just sit back and enjoy Aladdin, as it provides noodles of fun for the whole family.

- by John Dixon